Friend At Hand in London, United Kingdom

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Telephone:	+44 20 7837 5524
Address:	2-4 Herbrand Street, London, United Kingdom, WC1N 1HX Bloomsbury
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:	640 ftRussell Square 680 ftWoburn Place Bedford Way 690 ftSouthampton Row
Categories:	Pubs

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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards	Yes
Parking	Street
Bike Parking	No
Good for Groups	Yes
Ambience	Casual
Noise Level	Loud
Music	Juke Box

Good For Dancing	No
Alcohol	Full Bar
Happy Hour	Yes
Coat Check	No
Smoking	Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating	Yes
Has TV	Yes

Today

Today	11:00 am – 11:00 pm Closed now
Local time (London)	5:44 AM Friday, November 29, 2024

Business hours

Monday	11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Tuesday	11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Wednesday	11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Thursday	11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Friday	11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Saturday	11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sunday	11:00 am – 11:00 pm

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21 reviews of Friend At Hand

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Mark C.

Place rating: 4
Southampton, United Kingdom

A cosy pub tucked around the corner from Russell square tube station just behind GOSH.
Not the longest bar around but filled with a great range of beers, ales and Pilsners
One tv viewable for half the customers and plenty of tables and chairs squeezed in to all available space but doesn’t feel too squashed
I had a nosy look at the menu even though I was just passing for an arvo brew but I liked how the daily special menu was found tucked inside the main menu. A very nice range of burgers plus usual English pub classics even a choice of jacket potatoes too
Especially like the drink menu with food suggestions to pair with the ales, beers and ciders

Gemma M.

Place rating: 5
London, United Kingdom

Great little pub just round the corner from Russell Square Tube. There are a few tables inside and the staff are really good at helping you find somewhere to sit. There are also a few tables outside for the warmer days.
I’m a big fan of Taylor Walker pubs, the food is tasty, well presented and the portions are pretty big, this pub is no different. Food arrives quickly and is hot. I recommend one of their homemade pies which comes with an edible branded sticker on top. They also have a good drinks selection and the prices are reasonable.
The atmosphere is cosy and enjoyable, they have music playing in the background and a small television showing sport.

Fred F.

Place rating: 4
Portland, ME

I truly love the «Friend» …if for nothing else than it is one of the first pubs I ever visted in London upon arriving at the Russell Square tube station oh so many years and beers ago! It’s kinda tucked away out of sight down a a classic Dickensonian London alley… blue collar meets white collar clientele… all bickering over the latest football match… but all are welcome whomever you support… could sit here for hours (and indeed have, believe me). Stagger out at 11 (closing time) …get a curry on way back to room in Cartwright Square… yes…it’s been a good day… cheers!

Lizzie P.

Place rating: 4
London, United Kingdom

We have a name for this pub where I used to work, one which I won’t repeat here, but don’t let that put you off. This place is ‘a dive’. It’s a tiny boozer behind Russell Square station that caters to a mixed crowd of regulars, sports fans and those in search of a quick after work drink. Prices are reasonable, the staff are friendly and it’s not the worst place in the world to while away the hours.
Don’t expect great deco or quirky extras, this place is as old fashioned as you can get! It has an air of stickiness about it, like everything you touched would be sticky but again don’t let it put you off. The place has a certain charm, perhaps it’s that it isn’t pretentious or pop up or ‘quirky’ but simply it’s an old London boozer that’s fallen behind the times!

Billy B.

Place rating: 4
Helsinki, Finland

This is one of four pubs that I visited while in London. It’s apparently a chain pub, but I won’t hold that against the place. It was right behind my hotel, sort of off the beaten path but don’t let that deter you. I ordered a pint of Greene King IPA, fish & chips from the friendly barkeep.
I didn’t particularly care for the IPA — not hoppy enough, too fruity — unfortunately it was the only one on tap. The food arrived quickly and looked tasty! The portion was huge — I finished neither the plate nor the pint.
This place had a good vibe and I like that it was slightly off the busy streets. The prices were pretty average. Of all the pubs I visited on this trip, Friend At Hand had the best fish & chips! I’d gladly drop in again if I’m in the area.

L. H.

Place rating: 5
East Northport, NY

A great pub and where I had my first Guinness at age 19 :)

Marshall P.

Place rating: 5
Richmond, VA

Great Pub, you’re damn sure to meet some friendly English folk. Big Arsenal crowd, couldn’t keep out the Man City bandwagoners though. Good beer selection, but let’s be real you’re undoubtedly going to order a Guinness. My suggestion: Try the London Pride and Old Speckled Hen. For those of you who have had them, you know what I mean. It’s a pub so you’re going to get the typical pub menu but you come here more for the ambiance and authentic pub feel over the food. You won’t lose with this one.
Cheers.

Gregory S.

Place rating: 4
Jackson, NJ

Remember it’s a pub. There are lots of these in central London.
Good food. Not too noisy. Decent prices. Excellent beers on tap. Fish n chips very good.

Neal B.

Place rating: 3
London, United Kingdom

A fun spot with very generous portions and a nice selection of brews. Tried the fish and chips and classic roast beef and enjoyed both. Lots of TVs with soccer on but chose the fresh air and conversation just outside. Good place to relax and unwind.

Steve K.

Place rating: 4
CORTLANDT MNR, NY

Been checking out the pubs in and around the hotel for the best grub and brewskies.
I’d recommend Friend at Hand tucked away in an alleyway… you have to go find it. More friendly and attentive service compared with all other pubs I’ve tried in area.
As an American, it reminds me of a Sports Bar with communal dining and drinking, and friendly folks.
Recommend the Fish and Chips. Busy, with a few outdoor table and chairs, so don’t count on a private table in case that matters. All age groups.
I would return.
If you think this review with photo is useful, funny or cool, I’d appreciate your feedback below.

John M.

Place rating: 3
Parker, CO

Nice, tucked away little semi-dive behind the Horse Hospital and the Celtic Hotel in Bloomsbury. Good local pints, but surprisingly decent food as well. This place gets *busy* due to its proximity to the Russell Square tube station, the Russell hotel, the University, etc and has a mostly local crowd I noticed.

Jan N.

Place rating: 4
Washington, DC

I frequented this pub in January 2008 while there for a study aboard. The food, beers, and staff were all amazingly kind and courteous. In fact, I often recommend friends visiting London to stop by for a bite. I will always have fond memories!

NOei

Place rating: 4
Paris

Pub vraiment sympa, très grand, ce qui permet de né pas étouffer, large choix de bières et de cocktails, carte simple mais fournie (comptez entre 3£ –snacks– et 14£) avec une formule 2 pour le prix d’un jusqu’à 4pm, personnel très très très agréable, il faut absolument s’y arrêter !

Brian L.

Place rating: 4
North Aurora, IL

All of the previous reviews touch on bits about this pub.
We stopped in on a busy Thursday just past the lunch hour. Honestly we had really good food. MK had the Lamb Burger and I the Chicken Curry (sort of a tikka) and were quite pleased.
Sure there were folks there older than us but there were some younger folks as well. It was a mix likely due to its location but isn’t that what a good neighborhood pub is supposed to be?
Hey it fit our needs and to be honest, since we were staying at a hotel in the area, if we had stayed a bit longer we would have gone back.

Liz L.

Place rating: 3
London, United Kingdom

Cosy pub with decent drink prices, friendly staff, and pretty tasty food actually (!) — though food prices are slightly higher than average. It’s right next to the Russell Square tube station. The only problem is it’s near impossible to find a table on the weekends and/or on game nights.

Gina H.

Place rating: 4
Carlsbad, CA

Ya ya, its a typical pub but go on Friday afternoons and its packed with the hip kids from the design school across the street getting drunk! Great fashion tips! This is right around the corner from Russel square tube and Smart Russel Square hostel which I also recommend.

Kelly C.

Place rating: 3
Washington, DC

This pub has an interesting name, a nice sign featuring a St. Bernard dog, a funny location being across from a ‘horse hospital’, standard pub atmosphere, and mediocre food.
Come for a pint when you’re seeking a traditional ale with a quiet, older crowd near Bloomsbury. Otherwise eat and socialize elsewhere.

Chris F.

Place rating: 2
London, United Kingdom

Didn’t really like this pub. It felt a bit soulless, almost like a pub you might find in a train station or a hotel, which is quite surprising when you find out it was built almost 500 years ago and Oscar Wilde used to drink here.
There were TVs with the sport, but it didn’t even feel like the kind of place I would come to watch a match.
There were a few good drink options on tap though (but also the vile Stella) and it does looks very nice from outside.

Hannah F.

Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA

Fond memories of Paul and the crew… Oh, London and Friend at Hand, I miss you!

Katie A.

Place rating: 3
London, United Kingdom

A typical old man’s pub, this is the sort of place you could bring your Dad or even your Granddad. The clientele are of an appropriately elderly breed, with not a hint of trying to be cool. In some ways this is quite refreshing. It is unlikely you will be disturbed if you wander in for a quiet pint and settle down to read the paper. There are gaudy slot machines against the walls, confirm that this is a traditional pub, of the sort that you might want to use as an example when showing foreign visitors around the city.

Kenneth M.

Place rating: 2
Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Pretty run-of-the-mill pub this — decent service & a typical range of beers & spirits on offer in a cosy traditional-looking interior.
Sky TV was in evidence so not a bad central location to catch a match I expect & for all you smokers the windowsills outside are the ideal depth for safe pint resting whilst you drag on a snout.